Monday, August 5. 2013

This sure is not the same summer as last year. More rain and only a few hot heat wave temps so far. Clear and pleasant Saturday and Sunday. So we spent most of the time Saturday working on the Chicago Great Western X 38 snowplow outdoors, and Sunday rubbernecked like a tourist at our Vintage Transport Show. If not a record setter, surely one of the largest in my recent memory, with over 500 vehicles on display, and seven different trains running for riders.

First of the Ceiling

Victor Humphreys is nailing up the first of the long awaited new ceiling boards inside the rear cabin of the plow. Just a few boards at a time but a big visual impact.

Rear Roof

Bill Peterson worked in the shop the morning, cutting and fitting the next ceiling boards, and then moved on the enjoy the weather on the roof of the plow. He made good progress attacking the rust and old paint to the rear of the cupola/cab. Behind him you can see the last two of the eight new windows installed in the cupola, the old rotted frames still resting on the roof after being removed.

Front Area Roof

Tom Bernacki and I (mostly Tom) went to work on the roof to the front of the cupola. As you see here only a small area remaining, then priming and the black finish enamel.

A Prime Crew

Tom and Victor are up on the roof and they primed all the new areas to the front and in the rear of the cupola. A number of other tasks moved along including installation of the last remaining new window on the north side of the rear cabin. And the second seat frame for the cupola got some finish paint, aluminum polished up, and more new wood parts primed inside the shop.

More Roof Work

It was not all fun and games on the snowplow. I walked by Chicago Rapid Transit 1024 and handed my camera up to Tim Peters who got this view of the south hip roof area. Nearly all repairs are complete - new tack moldings up, and letterboards replaced.

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Jeron G. about Early February woodshop activiesSun, 03-01-2015 16:46That was sprayed on the cab while
at East Troy. The locomotive is
TE-1. It was built for Toledo
Edison, and worked there its entire
life until [...]

Roger Kramer about Early February woodshop activiesSat, 02-28-2015 21:28Hello Bill I hope someone from
the Electric Car dept will respond
to your question. I believe one
of the members wrote that on the
engine. It [...]

Roger Kramer about Early February woodshop activiesSat, 02-28-2015 21:24Hello Mr. Fan. I was wondering if
you ever had conveyed your
interest to the team restoring the
plow? Not being involved but
knowing the members [...]

Raphael about Energy in the Steam DeptSat, 02-28-2015 18:16while 428's cab is still on the
ground, there could be some
premature painting and decals that
could go on the outside of the cab

Bill McCoy about Early February woodshop activiesSat, 02-28-2015 15:50The last picture in the woodsshop
report shows the Electroliner and a
yellow steeple cab with a CNS&M
monogram and spray painted number
454. Could [...]

CGW RR fan about Early February woodshop activiesFri, 02-27-2015 12:17The UP sticker could be for a truck
trailer.
The headlight is neat. However for
the accuracy nut, the plow
originally had a style of Pyle
[...]

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update January 2015Fri, 02-27-2015 11:44Mike,
Yep. We always like to think she
may have been operated by Casey
...... but we will never be sure.
Nigel

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update January 2015Fri, 02-27-2015 11:42Zach,
At this time we will not be
offering "Take the Throttle" on
1630 this year.
The issue is that, after not
running for a number of years, we
[...]

Zach Kaye about Steam Department Update January 2015Fri, 02-27-2015 09:34I am curious as to whether or not
you will be offering cab rides on
1630 this coming season. I
understand you did not offer any
last year, as it was [...]

Dave Zeman about Early February woodshop activiesWed, 02-25-2015 22:04Hey I saw on the home page on the
scroll ad for mother's day,is that
shelter in the picture new? It
looks as if it is right across the
mainline by the [...]